Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

Thank you, Thyra and David!

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Today was sponsored by two long-time friends of the chimpanzees, Thyra and David Rutter, in celebration of the five year anniversary of Arte for Elephants!

Thyra and David are the founders of this wonderful organization which was created out of their desire to do whatever they can to help elephants who are suffering in captivity. Five years ago they sold most of their belongings and set out in an RV, traveling to raise awareness of the issues captive and wild elephants face, selling artwork, donating funds and inspiring other artists to take action. Since that time they’ve donated over $45,000 dollars to support sanctuaries around the world that are rescuing and appropriately caring for captive elephants. They also work with those communities to create programs which promote humane and ethical travel and tourism opportunities, as well as an educational scholarship program. In 2019, Arte for Elephants was able to award their first two Big Elephant Magic Scholarships which are paying for a full year of education for two young girls in northern Thailand and subsequently, have expanded to include three young girls in Kenya.

If there were ever a time when reading something inspiring, hopeful, and community-centered was much appreciated, it’s certainly now. Thanks so much, Thyra and David, for the impassioned work you do and for including the chimpanzees in that good magic.

If anyone can attest to the intrinsic value of living a life of dignity, respect and love for exactly who they are, particularly after decades of use in the entertainment and biomedical research industries, it’s Jamie:

Jamie leading Missy, Jody and Foxie on a perimeter check around Young’s Hill:

A throwback to Jamie and her elephant friend napping by the old barn doors of the playroom (pre-expansion) in the springtime breeze:

Happy Birthday, Jess!

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Cori Price sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees today in honor of Jessie Crosier’s birthday!

“Happy Birthday, Jess!”

Cori, thanks so much for thinking of the chimps and Jessie in such a lovely way!

Jessie, we hope this is a birthday to remember, full of all you love most! Thank you for adding to the chimps’ lives and Happy Birthday from all of us here at CSNW!

Mave and Honey B:

Honey B:

Annie and Missy:

Foxie and Strawberry Shortcake:

Happy Anniversary, Don and Kate!

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Margaret Austin sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in honor of the 6th wedding anniversary of her dear friends, Don and Kate Held!

Thank you so much for choosing to celebrate your dear friends by making a difference in the lives of the chimpanzees, Margaret! We so appreciate your generous heart.

Happy Anniversary, Don and Kate! May your special day be filled with the love, laughter and family that you’ve also helped make possible for the chimps!

Mave and Willy B:

Foxie and Burrito:

Missy and Annie:

Willy B and Honey B:

 

In honor of Jody and Foxie

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Dear supporter and friend of the sanctuary, Tobin, is sponsoring a day of sanctuary in honor of beautiful Jody and the special friendship she and Foxie share. Reading Tobin’s beautiful message about Jody and Foxie makes my heart so happy:

“A few years ago there was a blog post entitled “The Beauty of Jody.” Several supporters of the sanctuary commented not only on Jody’s distinctively expressive face but, moreover, on the essence of her personality. That beauty has shown forth in her devotion to her friend Foxie. Her concern for Foxie’s health and well-being, and her companionship to Foxie during her recovery demonstrates the love, home and hope which this sanctuary offers. Thus, I wish to sponsor Jody’s birthday in her honor as well as in honor of her dear friend Foxie. Every day can be – should be – “Love a Chimpanzee Day.”

Tobin! Thank you so very much for honoring and celebrating these two special chimpanzee women, the friendship they share, and for seeing them as the incredible people they are with so much love and respect.

Jody and Foxie:

Foxie visiting Jody during her recovery from a past surgery:

The happy place

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Every one of these ten chimpanzees has been beside themselves with joy today. From the moment we arrived this morning there’s been a continual stream of laughter, chasing, wrestling, jumping, swinging and general shenanigans. Which equates to a continual stream of joy in the hearts of the humans. Though I suspect you may be able to relate, I sometimes feel I could never fully express the deep gratitude and contentment it gives me to see them so light, so happy. Just because.

Last night, after a glorious spring evening of sauntering around and around the hill with Jamie (ending in a final run in the dark accompanied by Missy!), Chad, Anthony and I didn’t get home until 10 o’clock! As tired as we were, I think we’d all say we can’t imagine a better way to spend our evenings. Especially in the midst of a global pandemic, so many of us isolated from much that brings us a sense of well-being. But I will say, the humans have been wishing for a bit of that superpower chimp energy today. 😉

Burrito has been the chimpanzee equivalent of a slinky, leaping and springing from top to bottom and end to end of the chimp house, leaving his caregivers winded. Foxie has been playing toss the Strawberry Shortcake, loping through the chimp house and doing pirouettes with the humans (this makes us beyond happy to see her back to her old self after a bout of feeling unwell), Negra was seen carrying a troll doll in her mouth while chasing Missy through the playroom, and Jamie even skipped part of breakfast to get a head start on walking around the hill with me. These are just the tip of the shenanigans.

Over on the other side, Honey B was seen zooming through Phase 1 with a blanket turned cape flying behind her and Mave hot on her heels, their laughter ringing throughout the chimp house to the outdoors. Honey B really is a super heroine in our eyes though. And it was this raucous, never-ending laughter that enticed Willy B back inside after his daily (!) foray into the courtyard. Mave considered it, briefly, but decided she was more interested in girl time inside with Honey B. There were moments when Willy B looked so comfortable sitting out there in the open air, taking in the sights and sounds, grooming himself, it was as if he was saying, “I’ve always loved being outside, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Chad was the designated Willy B observer today and captured these sweet photos:

The prize…a whole apple. Willy B still isn’t comfortable staying at the top of the structure just yet, which makes perfect sense, but his comfort level continues to grow day by day.

And a bonus Mave photo from yesterday’s special celebration:

It’s been warm and humid today, but the skies are darkening and the temperature dropping, so I suspect that our anticipated late evening with Jamie will be cut short with a storm on the way. The chimps have caught sight of their dinner of whole lettuce, sweet potatoes and mini peppers and you’d think they’d never had dinner in their lives for the ruckus.

May you find at least a respite in the midst of these challenging times and rest with the ease and full hearts that you help provide the chimpanzees.

Update: Jamie will not be thwarted by mere raindrops. We just walked five rounds in the rain and she’s beckoning again. And really, what a gift that is. And I’m pretty sure that Burrito is sending Chad on a wild goose chase for snow! Chad is dishing out ice cubes as I type. And Burrito is blowing raspberries telling him to, “Move it!!” Goodnight, all. 🙂

A day of sanctuary

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Marcus Andrews sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees and cattle today in honor of “My other half.”

Marcus, thank you for celebrating your special person by making a difference in the lives of fourteen more special individuals! We truly appreciate you thinking of them all in this way.

Missy and Annie:

For Susie and Epin

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This day of sanctuary was sponsored by Lynn Williamson, long-time volunteer and friend of the sanctuary and it’s residents, in memory of two very special women in her life, Susie and Epin. Lynn’s lovely tribute:

“Today, May 5th, was my mother, Susie Williamson’s birthday. Tomorrow, May 6th, was her sister Epin Lewis’s birthday. Susie was born just one day shy of exactly 18 years after my Auntie Epin. Not only was Epin like a mother to Susie, she also took me on as a newborn and cared for me most of my childhood, and sheltered me into my early adulthood. These women were very different from each other. But one thing they had in common was their deep love of animals. I was well supported with all of the critters I brought into the household from pollywogs all the way up to a pony – well for one year anyway. Epin and Susie would have loved the chimps. When I see Negra clap her hands during mealtime I am reminded of my Auntie Epin in her later years – seriously the exact same clap! It makes me so happy every time. Thank you CSNW for letting me honor the memory of these two important women.”

Thank you for sharing part of your story with us, Lynn, and for making a difference in the chimps’ lives through your family memories. We’re grateful for your kind heart your mom and Auntie Epin helped nurture in their own ways and we’re hoping your memories of them bring them back to you in all their good today. Take good care, Lynn, and we hope to see you back in the chimp house before long!

Foxie and Jody: